Clearing My Desktop

September 10, 2007

Last week I shared with you one of my micro-obsessions. I received a few comments on the entry itself and by email, so apparently I’m not the only one who thinks too much about what music is played at the beginning of the day.

Now I’m going to let you in on yet another micro-obsession: keeping my desktop clear. 

Here’s how it works. Everytime I leave my desk for an extended period of time, I make sure to clear not only my physical desktop, but also my virtual desktop.

Before I joined Airbag and started working at home, I worked in an office. Everyday before I left the office I would always clear my desk of any papers or other junk that accumulated throughout the day. I would then close any unneeded applications on my computer or, at the very least, close or hide open windows. The result of this is that would arrive in the morning to a fresh, clean desk, free of the clutter, problems and issues of the day before.

I still do the same thing working from home, but the habit has become slightly more frequent. Before I leave my desk for more that just a few minues — to grab some lunch, a cup of coffee or to end my day — I clear both desktops. But over the last month or two I’ve had a way to make clearing my virtual desktop a bit easier: Dockables, a collection of useful Applescript applications which perform simple tasks on you Mac.

I’ve tried almost all of the Dockables but only one lives permanently in my dock: Hide Apps. It makes it so easy that I could see myself becoming addicted to it. I click that thing like it’s a fix for all my problems.

Can’t figure out a bug? Hide Apps. Maybe the blank desktop will inspire some new thinking.

Working on a project and have 4 Terminal windows open, 3 browser windows with 15 open tabs each and then Transmit and a project in TextMate? Sounds like a quick trip down insanity lane. Hide Apps and regain control.

Hiding all of my open applications and clearing off my desk is a great way for me to inspire fresh thinking, shake a frustrating day or difficult client. While the tangible effects of doing so are near non-existent—the applications (and problems) are still there, just hidden from view—it allows you step back, clear your mind and restart.

And restarting is always the hardest thing.

Comments

1. AJP — September 10, 2007 at 3:38:25

   

   If for some reason I can’t clear my deskop, or need to jump into a new project, I like to use Backdrop by John Haney. You can set it to place a desktop background or any other picture, right on top of everything. Hides every icon, window, folder, etc.

   So anytime I start jumping into the zone...backdrop and hide everything. A “clean” slate.
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2. Ryan — September 10, 2007 at 10:06:05

   

   That’s a good tip, AJP. I use a similar application called Desktop Curtain. Very handy.

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